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When I was rummaging through all of my clothes, I found a t-shirt that I loved, but it just didn’t fit right. I didn’t want to throw it away, so I decided to recycle it and turn it into a pillowcase! After getting a new bed and bed sheet set, I didn’t have enough throw pillows, but I did have one old, dingy pillow that desperately needed a facelift. Perfect!

I don’t have a sewing machine, and to be honest, I don’t really know how to sew. I’m sure I could figure it out, but I didn’t wanna risk it this time. After searching for ‘no-sew’ pillowcase methods, I couldn’t find one that I wanted to attempt, so I just did it myself.

Here’s how you can make your very own no-sew pillowcase out of an old t-shirt!

THINGS YOU NEED:

an old t-shirt

a pillow

ribbon

no-sew glue hem

a craft (or regular) iron

scissors

buttons

needle and thread (minimal sewing – just buttons onto ribbons!)

candle (okay, this is optional, but it makes the room smell great, so.. just do it!)

TOTAL CRAFTING TIME:

give or take, an hour, with tons of coffee breaks

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Here’s the old t-shirt, pillow, and supplies I used. There’s also some ribbon for the bows at the end, a few buttons, and a little craft iron. A normal iron will work just as well, but this little one is just so handy! Of course, a Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin candle from Bath and Body Works is a great addition to the mix (and will make your house smell amazing).

This is the hem glue that I used, and this stuff is great. I was a little skeptical at first, but I’m extremely happy with how the pillowcase turned out after using only this.

Cut a square that’s a little bit bigger than your pillow. You want to leave some room on the sides so that when it’s all hemmed and ready to go, your pillow case isn’t too small.

Take the back portion of fabric (the one without the writing on it) and cut it in half. You need to be able to get your pillow in the case, after all.

Fold over one edge of the fabric, and use the iron to glue it down, creating a nice, straight edge. I didn’t know exactly how I was going to finish my pillow, so I hemmed the edge incase I didn’t want to put any bows/close it completely. This is a step you can skip if you’re just going to close your pillow up in the end.

Once the edges of both back parts are hemmed down, assemble your fabric with the logo on the inside. Pay close attention and make sure that it’s lined up as close to the edge as possible.

Hem the sides down, but ensure that it’s cooled down before opening it up and checking that everything is holding together. Like I said, I was a little weary using this glue, but it worked like a charm. I had to go over a few parts a few times, but that was because the iron wasn’t hot enough, and I was afraid to leave it on for TOO long.

Make sure that your hem is as close to the edge as possible. I cut the strips in half, and then in half again to get a thinner strip of glue, and was super careful when applying the heat to it. Again, wait until it’s completely cooled down before checking that it’s staying together.

Once you have it all glued down, and it’s cooled, flip it inside out, and voila! A finished pillowcase! Slip your pillow in, and you’re all done! But… why stop there?

Cut three strips of ribbon, making sure they’re all the same length. I used black to match the writing on the front of the shirt, but you can use any colour you’d like to use.

Glue down (again with the no-sew glue hem [I love this stuff!]) the two ends to make a ribbon. I made three. Again, you can make as many as you want. Or none at all. Whatever.

Okay, so maybe I did sew a little, but only the button to the ribbon. Then I used the no-sew glue hem and glued the back of the pillowcase shut, and then proceeded to glue down the ribbon to somewhat hide the hem in the back.

And there it is!

I had so much fun making this pillowcase. Crafting usually mellows me out, and helps me keep my mind from working overtime. Today, I just needed to get back into my artistic roots, drink copious amounts of coffee, and relax on my day off.

If you have any other fun DIY projects you’d like to see me take on, I’m always up for a challenge.

Actually, scratch that, I’m a HUGE fan of coffee. The smell, the taste, the alertness it provides, how it warms your entire body up on a cold, rainy day – it’s all just perfect.

I hate calling myself this, but I am kind of a coffee snob. Not in the sense where I will only drink coffee that was ground by blind Belgian Nuns by a mortar and pestle made solely from pure gold, but in the sense that I like my coffee how I like my men: dark, strong, and won’t quit til the job is done (that’s a joke, but, I do have a particular palate when it comes to coffee).

Considering it’s National Coffee Day, here are a few coffee tips and tricks I’d like to share with you.

Make sure the grind is right. Different coffee makers require coffee to be ground various different ways. If you’re using a french press, your coffee should be more coarsely ground than if you’re using an espresso machine or having Turkish Coffee. Ask your barista what grind you should be using, depending on the method used to brew the coffee. It does matter.

Store your coffee in an air tight container. No one likes stale coffee. Making sure your coffee container has an air tight seal will keep your coffee fresher, longer. Storing it in the freezer is another option. Or, better yet, buy beans so you can grind per use. A coffee grinder is fairly inexpensive, and this will ensure you’re getting the freshest coffee possible every morning.

Use unbleached filters. If you use a drip coffee maker like I do, unbleached filters are the way to go. They’re less harsh on the coffee being filtered through, and you’ll be getting a smoother taste as your coffee is brewing. Also, it’s less chemicals, period.

The right temperature is key. If you’re using a french press, or percolator, you want to make sure that the water isn’t too hot. You don’t want to burn the coffee, you just want the water hot enough to brew it. After your boil it, give it about a minute to cool down in the kettle, then pour it over the grinds. Otherwise, you’ll be left with hot, burnt, brown water. Yuck.

Flavour your coffee pre-brew. Throw some cinnamon, or if it’s closer to the holiday season, some nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice, in with your coffee grinds before you brew your coffee. The flavours will be infused once it’s done brewing, and you’re left with an aromatic, flavourful coffee. Or, if you’re feeling bold, try some vanilla extract, or maple syrup.

Coffee grinds are great exfoliators. Seriously, don’t throw out your grinds post brew. Use them as an exfoliant in the shower. They’re all natural so they won’t kill your skin, and if you enjoy the scent of coffee as much as I do, it’s a win/win.

A pinch of salt cuts bitterness. If you find your coffee is a little bitter and acidic after it’s brewed, and you’ve tried adjusting the amounts of water and coffee, add just a pinch of salt before you brew it. The salt balances out the acidity without actually adding a salty taste to the coffee; it just kinda mellows it out.

Freeze leftover coffee in ice cube trays. I know what you’re thinking – what’s ‘leftover coffee’? Freezing the rest of what you don’t drink is awesome for making iced coffee on a hot, summer day. Just pop those in instead of regular ice cubes, and this way your coffee doesn’t get watered down. On the contrary, you can double brew your coffee so it’s a little stronger, and the regular ice cubes will help mellow it out as you pour your coffee over them.

Happy national coffee day, fellow caffeine addicts!

xo.

If you have any coffee tips or tricks that make your morning cup o’ Joe just that much better, leave a comment below! I’d love to try something new!

I had all intentions of getting my to-do list of things done today. I really did.

I did about 1.5 of those things. Instead of crossing items off of my to-do list, I chose to do some online shopping – not by choice, mind you, but by influence.

I was checking out one of my favorite blogs, The Small Things Blog, and today’s post featured MaskCara’s IIID Foundation, and how easy it is to apply! Basically, it’s a highlighting and contouring palette. It’s a cream based product, which allows it to blend much more smoothly, decreasing the amount of streaks left on your face, and the amount of time it takes to blend it all in together. AND – another winning factor – they don’t test on animals!

Now I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been intimidated by highlighting and contouring. How does THIS look easy to do?

No thank you. I don’t have time to sit and basically paint my face, and then blend it all together to make it look flawless. I’m fairly low maintence when it comes to getting ready, and I like my makeup to take about 15-20 minutes, tops. After watching Kate on The Small Things Blog do her makeup with MaskCara’s IIID Foundation palette, I knew I would want to try and buy!

So I did.

The palette, along with a double ended contouring/highlighting brush, and a blending sponge, should be making it’s way to me within the next two weeks, and then I’ll be able to update you all on how the product works for me.

Wednesday was the first day of Autumn, and it’s time to take in all of the wonder that is this magical time of year. The leaves are changing colours, the air is crisp, and although we’ve still got some 20+ temperatures here in Toronto, it won’t be long before we’re curling up with a cup of tea and a cozy, warm blanket.

As we approach the cold, winter months, I encourage you all to stop and realize what a wonderful season we’ve got hanging around for the next little while. To persuade you more, here are a few of my favorite things about the fall.

THE COLOURSReds, oranges, yellows. Burnt amber, mahogany, mustard yellow. ❤️? There are so many beautiful shades of reds and oranges taking over the skyline. The city looks like it’s on fire; a gorgeous, flaming sea of amber. Just grab a book, sit on a park bench and enjoy the scenery, because it won’t last long. To top things off, we can put away the pastels and bring out the deep, rich, dark colours – the purples, the navy, the forest green. It’s just awesome.

THE WARDROBE
That’s right! It’s time to dig deep into the back of your closet and pull out the fall clothes you’ve been stowing away. Long sleeved tees, jeans, sweatpants, and warm socks. ‘Tis the season for jackets, scarves and hats; the season where we can layer up, wear our favorite boots and oversized sweaters. Plus, if you’ve got that significant other, you get to steal their sweaters and flannel shirts to wear when you’re cold. And chances are, you’ll look so cute they’ll let you keep it – score!

THE SMELLS
Cinnamon, pumpkin, and crisp autumn air (oh my!). Autumn is the perfect time to do some baking and fill the house with inviting smells. Even the smell of coffee becomes a fall staple in the morning (here’s a tip: throw some cinnamon into your coffee grinds before you brew it; deliciousness in a cup). Once you step outside, you’re hit with that crisp, chilled air. I don’t know how else to describe it, but you just know it once you smell it: it’s clean, it’s fresh, it’s got that je ne sais quoi to it that you can only smell in the fall.

THE FLAVOURS
Before we get too caught up in all of the smells, let’s not forget about all of the flavours that come back once the fall season hits: apple ciders and pumpkin flavoured everything! Teas, lattes and pies: apple pies, pumpkin pies, pecan pies.. basically all pies. Like I mentioned before, it’s the best time to do some baking. Plus, there’s always the glorious meal we like to call Thanksgiving! We get to stuff endless amounts of, well, stuffing into a turkey, roast that bad boy in the oven and accessorize it with mashed potatoes, carrots, turnips, yams, gravy, and of course, pie!

THE ACTIVITIES
Raking leaves (to be followed by jumping into a pile of them, of course), apple picking, carving pumpkins, walking through the park watching the leaves fall and hearing them crunch under your feet, sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows (sure, this can be done in the summer as well, but.. whatever). Autumn crafts are super fun too, if you’re a crafter like I am! Building a scarecrow, decorating the house in autumn colours, and of course, creating a fabulous fall centerpiece for Thanksgiving!

I love a good bottle glass of wine. A crisp, chilled Sauvignon Blanc does the trick after a long day. Like today – today was a long day, and you can bet that my wine glass is pretty full right now. Okay, half full – but that just means there’s room for more wine!

You know who else loves wine? My friend Richie. He loves wine so much, that he’s started a blog called Wine & Reason. Basically, it’s wine on a budget, paired with whatever reason you need to buy wine. Sometimes, my reason for buying wine is cause it’s a Monday. Or Wednesday. Or just cause I’m walking by a liquor store.

Here’s an excerpt from his blog (you can either click on the photo, or the blog name below the excerpt to take you to directly to the page):

“So if you’re like me, you like wine. And you’re always on a budget. We all know that so many occasions call for wine. What wine pairs with what food, what’s a good wine for a gift, what wine is suitable for a celebration. But what about all the times in between? The simple, every day occurrences that also call for wine. Which, in my case (and I know I’m not alone), is just about anything.” – Wine & Reason

Now, c’mon, that photo is pretty much the epitome of most of my evenings: Netflix, wine, and crackers. Sometimes, if I’m feeling really fancy, I’ll throw in some cheese! This blog is funny, and I may be biased since I adore Richie as much as I adore wine, but I really do think if you’re trying not to dish out tons of money on a good bottle, and looking for a great tasting wine, you should check it out. He’s got some great suggestions, and it’s a super fun read.

But, don’t just take my word for it. Go check it for yourself!

I, on the other hand, am going to finish my glass and probably pour myself another one.

I mentioned in an earlier blog that I was enrolled in George Brown’s program for a certificate in Journalism, and today was the first class. I realize how quickly it seems like it all happened, but in order to take the classes I need to take in January, I had to jump right in and take one of the classes now. Talk about diving into the deep end without water wings or swimming lessons.

Let me brief you on how my day went: woke up, had coffee, showered, gathered my belongings, got my phone screen protector fixed, had more coffee, ventured over to George Brown, got my student card, sat and waited in the student area until my class started with another coffee, and then had class.

Now, let’s back up a little, to the moment before I walked into George Brown’s St. James Campus. I don’t know why, but I suddenly got extremely nervous as I walked down King Street, getting closer and closer to the building.

Okay, that’s a lie. I know exactly why I was nervous: a) I had no idea where I was going, and b) it’s been 6 years since I’ve been a student. 6 years. That’s a long time. Getting a student card, though, was kind of an awesome feeling and made the jitters subside, even if only for a little while. When that little piece of plastic was in my hand, I got this feeling that I was finally somewhere I should have been for a very long time. Trust me, it’s a pretty cool feeling.

Class itself, however, is going to be a bit of a challenge. Grammar for Editors and Writers – or, as I like to call it, The Class That Was Invented To Drive Me Insane.

I understand grammar. I like to think I’m fairly decent in the written, and spoken word. I always had one of the highest marks in my high school English classes. And while I may make a grammatical error or two sometimes, this class is making me feel like I know nothing about the English language. I can already feel myself getting buried in homework, reading and re-reading definitions to make sure I can differentiate between an adjective and an adverb (FYI, I know the difference between the two of them).

I’m excited, though. It’s going to be a great refresher course, and I’m sure I’ll learn some new things along the way, too. Grammar is one of those things that seems simple, but is kind of a bitch in the long run.